CVE-2026-89478 (CVSS 9.8)

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sctp: drop a chunk if its transport was removed sctp_rcv() resolves the transport once per packet and leaves it in chunk->transport. The lookup reference, or the one sctp_add_backlog() takes if the socket is owned by userspace, keeps it around until the chunk has been processed. An authenticated ASCONF DEL-IP can remove it in the meantime. sctp_assoc_rm_peer() takes the transport out of the association and calls sctp_transport_free(), which tags it dead and drops the reference the association held. There is a window on both paths: the packet can sit on the socket backlog, and on the direct path the lookup completes before bh_lock_sock(). The DATA chunk in that packet puts the removed transport back into asoc->peer.last_data_from. Once the packet is done that reference goes away and the transport is freed by RCU, so the next delayed SACK carries the pointer into the SACK chunk and sctp_outq_select_transport() reads the freed transport's state. Drop the chunk in sctp_inq_push(), next to the existing rcvr->dead check. Both paths reach it with the association's socket lock held. The peer retransmits it.

Is your site exposed to CVE-2026-89478?

Run a free security scan — no signup, results in seconds.

CVSS v3.1 Score

9.8

CRITICAL

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS — Exploit Prediction

0.0052

Probability of exploitation

0.43%

Percentile rank

EPSS estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. A higher score means more likely to be exploited.

References

Other References

https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/03a9d10ecf71f54b2af8020935f2033d4a132be5 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0422b092a3d43ca462932ff9f747731ca078d1d4 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1035bdef1efb9b1076d1a57b81e08c637ff08ecc https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3537961df2163258bddc230db0e18dc14e925ea6 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3fc072e7cb4a0ff251d13cfc2d24f62489cd9386 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/928fd7920ba37cc5637a211b9be979083413a2fa https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c6c86a5e62a4fec36692ddd64b9144b660f71f96 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d7cb5ad832095dc4becfdb2a36007ffd50e49fb0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-89478? +

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sctp: drop a chunk if its transport was removed sctp_rcv() resolves the transport once per packet and leaves it in chunk->transport. The lookup reference, or the one sctp_add_backlog() takes if the socket is owned by userspace, keeps it around until the chunk has been processed. An authenticated ASCONF DEL-IP can remove it in the meantime. sctp_assoc_rm_peer() takes the transport out of the association and calls sctp_transport_free(), which tags it dead and drops the reference the association held. There is a window on both paths: the packet can sit on the socket backlog, and on the direct path the lookup completes before bh_lock_sock(). The DATA chunk in that packet puts the removed transport back into asoc->peer.last_data_from. Once the packet is done that reference goes away and the transport is freed by RCU, so the next delayed SACK carries the pointer into the SACK chunk and sctp_outq_select_transport() reads the freed transport's state. Drop the chunk in sctp_inq_push(), next to the existing rcvr->dead check. Both paths reach it with the association's socket lock held. The peer retransmits it. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL).

How severe is CVE-2026-89478? +

CVE-2026-89478 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 9.8 out of 10, rated CRITICAL. This is a critical vulnerability that should be patched immediately. The EPSS score is 0.0052, placing it in the 0th percentile for exploitation probability.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2026-89478? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

CVE-2026-89478